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There are also a number of sperm production problems that can contribute to infertility, including: Scrotal varicose veins (varicoceles)  Scrotal varicose veins (varicoceles) are swollen veins causing your testicles to get hotter and affect the production of sperm  These are treated with surgery  Testicular injury   Serious trauma to the testicles such as becoming twisted (torsion) can affect sperm production  Damage from playing sports or an accident can rupture the vessels that supply blood to the testicles  Previous injuries can’t be treated, but an ART treatment may help you to conceive Undescended testicles  In the uterus, baby boys’ testicles form in their abdomen and descend into their scrotum shortly before birth  Some men’s testicles don’t descend before they are born (cryptorchidism), although in these cases they usually drop in the first six months after birth  If left untreated, undescended testicles can affect fertility Testicular cancer  This happens when a malignant tumour in the testicle destroys testicular tissue  If undetected, testicular cancer can spread to other parts of the body  This is treated either by surgery, medication, radiotherapy or chemotherapy  However, cancer therapy can also damage sperm production  Genetic defects  Sometimes, genetic information on the Y chromosome (which is only present in men) is deleted (micro-deletions),6 which can reduce the production of sperm  Depending on where the micro-deletion is on the chromosome, this may be treated by surgically extracting sperm from part of your reproductive tract  However, some couples may need to consider using a donor sperm to conceive Mumps Contracting mumps (or mumps-related orchitis) after puberty may damage the sperm-producing cells in your testicles,  causing infertility or subfertility7 Usually, only one testicle is affected and if you have one functioning testicle you may not need treatment  However, some couples may need to use a sperm donor in order to conceive Anti-sperm antibodies  Anti-sperm antibodies are large proteins in your blood that are hostile to sperm  They can cause sperm to clump together and prevent them from swimming, or they may mistake sperm cells for an infection and try to destroy them  This can be treated using an ART treatment   Lifestyle   Sperm production can be affected by a range of lifestyle factors, including smoking, drinking, drugs, stress, overweight and unhealthy food Environmental factors can also affect your sperm quality, including overheating of your testicles, some sexual lubricants, the chemicals involved in certain manufacturing, painting or printing jobs   These factors are treated by making lifestyle changes, such as wearing loose clothing to avoid overheating Hormonal problems  Hormonal problems are rarely the cause of male infertility problems  However, some men have a natural deficiency in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH), which prevents the testicles from producing testosterone or developing healthy sperm  Hormonal problems can usually be treated with medication Obstruction problems Blocked sperm ducts  Occasionally, male sperm ducts (epididymis and vas deferens) can become blocked, meaning that your semen doesn’t contain any sperm  This can be treated with surgery, or sperm may be surgically extracted from part of your reproductive tract  Vasectomy  Some men have had a previous vasectomy to stop them being able to conceive  This can sometimes be reversed using surgery  The procedure’s success depends on how long ago your vasectomy was performed  Previous infections  Infections can cause scarring or adhesions (organs sticking together) in your sperm ducts  This can usually be treated with surgery  Does age affect male fertility? 18  If the semen analysis result is abnormal, further evaluation is indicated (Table 36–8,10,19,20). Abnormal sperm: The sperm may have an unusual shape, making it harder to move and fertilize an egg. 0.[44] Environmental factors Toxins such as glues, volatile organic solvents or silicones, physical agents, chemical dusts, and pesticides.[45][46] Tobacco smokers are 60% more likely to be infertile than non-smokers.[47] German scientists have reported that a virus called adeno-associated virus might have a role in male infertility,[48] though it is otherwise not harmful.[49] Other diseases such as chlamydia, and gonorrhea can also cause infertility, due to internal scarring (fallopian tube obstruction).[50][51][52] Alimentary habits[53] Obesity: The obesity epidemic has recently become is a serious issue, particularly in industrialized nations. An ultrasound scan can detect an ectopic pregnancy.

They may go unnoticed until a man tries to have a baby. This allows the physician to evaluate the woman for any pelvic disease, particularly endometriosis, which may interfere with conception. PID is a major cause of tubal infertility and can lead to ectopic pregnancy, which may further damage the reproductive system. The use of Epididymal and Testicular Spermatozoa for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection: The Genetic Implications for Male Infertility. (PDF, 8 MB) Human Reproduction, 1995. ARTICLES FROM THE 2000s Evaluation and Treatment of Male Infertility. (PDF, 17 MB) Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2000. Hysterosalpingography: Fluid is injected into the woman's uterus and X-rays are taken to determine whether the fluid travels properly out of the uterus and into the fallopian tubes.

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This leads to the final maturation and release of the egg. Surgical sperm aspiration: The sperm is removed from part of the male reproductive tract, such as the vas deferens, testicle, or epididymis. Ovulation disorders About one quarter of infertility cases are due to ovulation disorders.

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Ovulation-inducing drugs and ovarian cancer risk: results from an extended follow-up of a large United States infertility cohort. 1 Infertility is medically defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sex.

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Once eggs and sperm are collected, the actual process of injecting a single sperm into the egg is carried out in a laboratory using a petri dish or a glass slide with a well in the center. An estimated 34 million women, predominantly from developing countries, have infertility which resulted from maternal sepsis and unsafe abortion (long term maternal morbidity resulting in a disability). In ZIFT, your doctor places the fertilized eggs -- at this stage called zygotes -- into your fallopian tubes within 24 hours. If you’re concerned, it’s important to consult with your doctor. Excess iron from multiple transfusions may get deposited in the pituitary gland and the testis, causing parenchymal damage and both pituitary and testicular insufficiency. In current practice, an alternative for patients with more than 5 sizable follicles is to convert the treatment to IVF. Diagnosis and Management of Hypogonadism, Infertility, and Impotence. (PDF, 13 MB) Chapter 22 of textbook,Male Reproductive Dysfunction, 1986. If you and your partner agree, extra embryos can be frozen and saved to use later. The male partner can be evaluated for infertility or subfertility using a variety of clinical interventions, and also from a laboratory evaluation of semen.” (Semen manual, 5th Edition3). IVF is Generally Performed in the Following Manner: The woman undergoes gonadotropin injections, which stimulate the ovaries to produce many eggs. The prevalence varies widely, being less in developed countries and more in developing countries where limited resources for investigation and treatment are available [2].